The transportation of coal, coke, and manufacturing materials used in the production of steel contributed to almost half of the cost of the finished product. Frick knew that transporting his materials via waterways and canals would greatly reduce his cost of shipping for his various companies. Frick who was always interested in the bottom line was highly invested in the research and development of canals and waterway transportation. This subseries illustrated many of the waterways and canal routes Frick used to transport both his raw material and Carnegie Company steel products. Many of the maps show the waterways and surround towns and communities in the general region.